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STRATFORD VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 16
18 FREE
MARCH 21, 2025
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Real Estate Broker email: sherrieroulston@royallepage.ca Direct: 519-272-3578
Over 4,000 local auto jobs stand to be affected by U.S. trade tariffs if enacted on April 2 CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Across about 18-20 companies in the region, there are about 4,000 direct employees in the local automotive sector, according to investStratford CEO Joani Gerber, that stand to be affected by the 25 per-cent U.S. trade tariff on all automotive parts manufactured in Canada, which are set to take effect on April 2. But, as Gerber said, that doesn’t include the 100-300 transport trucks moving through the region or the other various industries that will be indirectly affected by these tariffs. “The trickle-down effect of it will be significant, which is very hard to quantify,” Gerber said. “There's always the worst-case scenarios, which I don't think we're going to get to that. I really hope we don't. “This community is exceptionally resilient, and as we saw through COVID, tourism picks up where manufacturing needs the help and vice versa. So, the diversification of the industries in Stratford, the sectors in Stratford and Perth County and St. Marys, will help us be resilient. It's not going to make us tariff proof, but it will certainly help.” Gerber, who also announced a regional tariff taskforce on March 3 that includes representatives from the City of Stratford, the Town of St. Marys and Perth County, said the 25 per-cent tariffs on all Canadian goods, CONTINUED TO PAGE 3
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) Moderator Deanna Horton joined panelists Pamela Jeffrey, Halyna Padalko and Mary Hofstetter for a wide-ranging discussion which touched on mentoring, networking and the state of the world at large.
CFUW Stratford hosts packed panel show for International Women’s Day
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On March 8, International Women’s Day was celebrated across the world as it is every year – but it was especially meaningful in 2025, as Cambria Ravenhill said. In 1975, 50 years ago, the United Nations designated the year as the International Women’s Year and began to celebrate the advocacy and action related to the women’s suffrage movement and women’s equal participation in
society writ large. In the following years, the celebration became the annual day we celebrate today. “This is the 50th anniversary of women coming together purposely to break down the barriers we faced at that time,” Ravenhill said. “Women couldn't get a credit card in their own name, they couldn't sign a mortgage, they couldn't get a car loan – some banks would not let them, allow them, to have bank accounts in their maiden name. We forget how much we've achieved over those decades, CONTINUED TO PAGE 2